Tutorial Organics for Beginners

[Scrappy4]

Scrappy-

General Organics sells one, it's like $50 a gallon (I think that's what they're talking about)... Hydro guy like everything else. Maybe they have a different source?

FK

It was sul po mag i was looking for. Googled it and found a source....ended up with 50lb of it, I'll use some on my veggie garden,next spring..........scrappy

 

[chappie]

Couple quick questions:

- In the first post, the mixes are called "soilless" and yet contain soil (such as Ocean Forest). Not trying to split hairs, but whats that about?

- How long can the nutrient teas be bubbled for before going "bad" and what indication is there that its bad?

- It is suggested to use a "teabag" to contain the ingredients in the tea mix (pantyhose). Is this left in the entire time, and what should be done with its contents when it is removed? Compost bin?

- Which grade of perlite is suggested, fine, medium or coarse?

- Has anyone found an ideal container for brewing and dispensing nutrient? I am thinking a trash can with bulkhead fitting and ball valve, but is there something more useful already manufactured?

Ive been "soil growing" using products called organic, but I would like to really step it up and start the bacteria farming.
thanks!

 

[CT Guy]

Chappie,

It's important to distinguish between "nutrient" teas and "compost" teas. One is for providing nutrients to the biology in the soil, the other is for adding beneficial biology. If you're looking to apply nutrients, then it's a simple matter of mixing the ingredients in a container and then applying. There's no biology, so there's no need for a brewing cycle. Some people like to aerate these ingredients to raise the dissolved oxygen levels of the water or maybe to get some airborne bacteria, but I've never seen the need.

Aerated compost tea is a little more complicated, but still very simple. Here you're extracting and replicating the beneficial aerobic microbes from a source like compost or EWC. Check out my tea article in the sticky section for more information on this.

 

[chappie]

I was speaking of the guano-wormcastings-kelp based "nutrient" teas in the original post here. Recipe #3, it is called. I supose I should not have used the term "brew". My questions remain, how long will the nutrient tea remain good? And if a hosiery teabag is used for the overnight (or longer) session, what should be done with its contents?

thanks-

 

[Stankie]

I bubble 'nutrient' teas for a lot shorter than an AACT. For making a soil soak with EWC and other amendments I'll only bubble for 3-4 hours, but that is really just to get it all good and mixed. I don't use a bag. If you're doing a soil soak why not water the sediment in as well?

I started off using pantyhose, but they are horrible. I would use a paint bucket strainer instead if you need to filter, but the fine stuff still makes it...

 

[chappie]

I bubble 'nutrient' teas for a lot shorter than an AACT. For making a soil soak with EWC and other amendments I'll only bubble for 3-4 hours, but that is really just to get it all good and mixed. I don't use a bag. If you're doing a soil soak why not water the sediment in as well?

I started off using pantyhose, but they are horrible. I would use a paint bucket strainer instead if you need to filter, but the fine stuff still makes it...

Thats what I was thinking, as well... but in the spirit of doing it by the book, figured there was a reason I was not aware of to use a "teabag".

I've been hearing more and more than bubbling any kind of nutrient is a good idea, and overnight is a good way to do it. I am still wondering though how long the stuff keeps. If the plants are in different sized containers or growing at different rates, they might not need it on the same day. In such a case is a few days worth of keeping the leftovers bubbling too long?

 

[CT Guy]

I was speaking of the guano-wormcastings-kelp based "nutrient" teas in the original post here. Recipe #3, it is called. I supose I should not have used the term "brew". My questions remain, how long will the nutrient tea remain good? And if a hosiery teabag is used for the overnight (or longer) session, what should be done with its contents?

thanks-

Guano and worm castings will have biology in them, so I would treat them as I would an aerated compost tea. That means that you're either properly aerating them for a maximum of 36 hours (you could use anytime before then), or just mix with water until mostly dissolved and then apply.

If you have the guano and castings in a bag and there's no agitation in the bag, you're not going to get good extraction of microbes into the water and the material could go anaerobic in the center since it's just sitting there in a clump.

 

[descivii]

chappie,
I've kept it for a few days(maybe 4 or 5) but it was bubbling and alot cooler. Probably low - mid 40's in the basement. Houseplants still love it for a few days but I haven't used it on mj or similar after that long.

J.

 

[Yoric]

Widow problem resolved (pics)

Widow problem resolved (pics)

Vonforne suggested that I cool my plants down so I did, about 2 weeks ago. Now I'm at the end of the third week of flowering and my Widow looks like this:

I also have an AK-48 that's been flowering for 3 weeks. Yesterday she finally showed female; I think she's a good one to clone or re-veg (I don't have fem. AK seeds).

Thanks to everyone!

 

[Sourbear]

.

 

[Bottled Cat]

LC's Mix is great for any stage of growth. You can germ seeds in it, grow mothers in it, root clones in it as well as veg and flower in it.

LC’s Soiless Mix #1:

5 parts Canadian Sphagnum Peat or Coir or Pro-Moss
3 parts perlite
2 parts worm castings or mushroom compost or home made compost
Powdered (NOT PELLETED) dolomite lime @ 2 tablespoons per gallon or 1 cup per cubic foot of the soiless mix.
...Wal-Mart now sells worm castings.

So, would this soil mix require any "cooking"? Or would it be ready to go after you mixed everything together? Also, would this mix just need liquid/powdered nutes? I'm using Age Old Grow/Bloom/Kelp, with Earth Juice Microblast. And that's all the dolomite lime needed to last the whole grow? Thanks ICMAG!

 

[vonforne]

So, would this soil mix require any "cooking"? Or would it be ready to go after you mixed everything together? Also, would this mix just need liquid/powdered nutes? I'm using Age Old Grow/Bloom/Kelp, with Earth Juice Microblast. And that's all the dolomite lime needed to last the whole grow? Thanks ICMAG!

Yes, you want the biology to begin processing the organic material in the soil.........Lime, peat and EWC (the most important) so when you plant your seedlings they have everything they need for those first few critical days of life. Weed can take a pounding later in life but not when they are that young.

Letting your soil sit (cook) is one of the most important steps to take IMO.

This is an un-amended base mix.

You will need to supplement with a Nutrient mix and a Mineral mix or Top dress or use bottled nutrients like you have mentioned.

V

 

[Bottled Cat]

So even that most basic soil mix needs time to cook? What is it absorbing exactly? I've been using premade Age Old Organic grow soil, but I was interested in using my own soil mix. I just don't have the time at this point (perpetual sog) to let soil sit around and "bake".

 

[Scrappy4]

In a pinch I have mixed and potted in one day with no adverse affects.

But, if you can spare a couple of weeks, the time involved will allow the microbes to begin processing nutrients, and then those nutrients are then available for the plants.

I think the danger is this process can heat up a mix, and can burn/harm tender roots..........scrappy

 

[Bottled Cat]

how would you go about cooking that particular soil? just add water and let it sit for a week?

 

[Scrappy4]

I like to start new soil off with compost, or ewc tea. If you can't make a tea, fish gets the micro's going as well......scrappy

 

[rupertb]

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[Stankie]

How are the roots?

Some plants show signs like that when they are starting to become root bound/circling the bottom. If it looks pretty bound, transplant to a larger container or better yet, Smart Pots.

 

[rupertb]

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[beta]

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